Display box for flexible contents

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a display box configured for displaying the contents of a container that is flexible. The display box is configured to bend in unison with the flexible container without damage to the display box. The display box is formed to include a least one incision around a partial perimeter including three sides of the box, allowing the display box to fold about a hinge in a remaining side. In a further aspect, the display box includes a blocking piece that may be affixed to an inner surface of the display box. When the display box is moved between an unfolded and folded condition, the blocking piece automatically assumes a position that will permit insertion of the container when the display box is unfolded, and that will close an opening formed in the display box when the display box is folded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to display boxes, and more particularly to display boxes adapted to flexibly surround a container of merchandise, where the container itself is flexible.

Modem methods of selling a product now commonly include, firstly, placing the product and its accessories in a container that may be retained by the purchaser for storage of the product, and, secondly, placing the container within a display box for temporarily sealing the container. The display box is expendable, commonly made from rather flimsy cardboard and having windows with transparent cellophane covering, and will generally be discarded by the purchaser once the product container is extracted. Thus, a merchant may display a product for sale in a container that is opened to allow a shopper to view the product directly, but the container may be enclosed within a display box with transparent windows to secure the product and its accessories from being tampered with while on display. The display box also may serve to protect the exterior of the container during shipping, and may provide a convenient surface for applying markings, user instructions, advertising, and the like.

This method of surrounding a product container for display and shipping has also been used when the container is flexible. As shown in FIG. 1, a container 20 suitable for containing, shipping, and storing product content in the form of tool pieces 22 in recesses of the container has been developed. Typically, such a container 20 may be manufactured from molded plastic, and may have a central panel 24 adapted to receive and hold product content, and may include two side panels 26, each side panel also being adapted to receive and hold product content. Each side panel may be connected by hinges 27 to the central panel 24 and may be configured to fold over the central panel where they may be locked into place via a clip or detent mechanism 29, as shown in FIG. 2. When the side panels are thus locked in the folded configuration, the tools are fully enclosed by the container 20 and the locked container provides a useful means for storing and transporting the product content.

However, it will be appreciated that this folded and locked configuration is not suitable for displaying the product content because the contents will be invisible to a purchaser. Accordingly, a merchant will commonly package the container 20 and its contents in an unfolded configuration for shipping and display, by inserting it into a display box 28 such as shown in FIGS. 3-4. In this case, the box 28 may be made up in a typical rectangular configuration, with six sides dimensioned to receive the shape of the container 20, and having windows 30 in some sides covered by transparent material such as cellophane to allow a purchaser to view the contents without being able to tamper with them. Such a box 28 commonly has end flaps 31 for closing the ends of the box once the container is placed within, the end flaps having conventional tabs 32 to secure the flaps in the closed position (FIG. 4).

One problem encountered with this method of storing and shipping flexible product containers (such as the container 20 exemplified in FIGS. 1-2) packaged within display boxes such as the box 28 exemplified in FIGS. 3-4, is that the display box 28, being made of rather flimsy cardboard to mainly cover but not support the container, may tend to break up when the entire package is lifted. It will be appreciated that, because the container 20 within the box 28 has flexible panels hinged to one another, if one lifts the entire package across a span including the flexible span of the container 20, the weight of the contents may tend to bend the container 20 and also the display box 28. The weight may be sufficient to cause the display box 28 to bend and break at the position of a hinge 27 of the container 20 within. This is clearly an undesirable result.

Therefore, there is a need for a display box for containing a flexible container, capable of dealing with gravitational forces that might tend to deform and possibly break the flexible container during handling. It is believed that this invention addresses these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is described an improved display box for displaying product containers that are flexible or have portions that are movable in relation to each other. In one aspect of the invention, the display box is formed of a generally rectangular box having six sides. The box includes a first incision starting at a first point adjacent a perimeter of a first side, and extends through three other sides, to end at a second point adjacent the perimeter of the first side. Under this configuration, the display box is foldable about a first line on the first side, such that folding about the first line includes no bending or folding of another part of the box. This feature provides the advantage of having a foldable display box that is capable of holding a foldable container. The hinge(s) of the display box are configured to coincide with the hinge(s) of the flexible container, so that no damage is done to the display box as the container is folded. The resulting display box may be folded when it is necessary to ship the product. It may be unfolded when necessary to display the product.

In another aspect of the invention, the first side includes one or more windows to permit customers to view the contents of the open container, yet to prevent tampering with the contents of the container because the windows are sealed with transparent material. In yet a further aspect of the invention, when the display box is in folded condition the window is closed. Thus, during shipping, the package, which includes the container and its contents within, are securely protected from the outside. The package in a folded configuration is in a manageable shape that permits robust handling, without the likelihood of damage to the display box, in contrast with the display box 28 previously exemplified in FIGS. 3-4. Once the package reaches its destination, the package may be unfolded to permit display in a store, yet no extra work in the form of repackaging is required. The display box is simply unfolded, and is ready for placement on the shelves.

In other aspects of the invention, the display box comprises more than one incision of a kind that is similar to the first incision, whereby the display box is foldable about a second line such that folding about the second line includes no bending or folding of another part of the display box. Thus, the container may include a complex folding shape with more than two portions movable in relation to each other, yet the display box of the present invention may be configured to accommodate such complexity.

The display box may further include a blocking piece configured to close an opening formed in the box when the box is in its folded configuration. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the blocking piece is attached to an interior surface of the box, so that when the box is an unfolded condition the blocking piece lies entirely adjacent an interior surface of the box, and, when the box is moved to a folded configuration a portion of the blocking piece closes the opening. Thus, when the box is moved from one condition to the other, the blocking piece slides from one position to another, forming no obstruction to the insertion of a container into the box, yet always appearing to block the opening formed when the display box is folded.

These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof and the accompanying exemplary drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the kind of flexible container that the present invention is configured to cover, the container being depicted in an unfolded condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, depicted in a folded configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the top of a prior art display box.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the bottom of a prior art display box.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the top of a display box having features of the present invention, depicted in an unfolded condition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the bottom of the display box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the side of the display box of FIG. 1, depicted in a folded configuration, showing further aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 8. is a view of the display box of FIG. 7, showing yet further aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view of the display box of FIG. 1, depicting the box opened out into an original manufactured flat configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 5-9 by way of example and without limitation, a display box generally designated 40 is shown having features of the present invention.

The display box 40 is dimensioned to snugly receive a container, such as the container 20 exemplified in FIGS. 1-2, for holding products such as tools, or for holding a product and its accessories. The display box 40 is particularly useful where the container is flexible by having various parts that may move in relation to each other, either independently and unconnected or by hinges.

By way of describing the product that forms the display box 40 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming such display box will first be described to assist with envisioning the product. The producer may conceptually start with a rigid display box, such as the box 28 exemplified in FIGS. 3-4, dimensioned to snugly receive a flexible container such as that exemplified in FIGS. 1-2. As in the case of the box shown in FIGS. 3-4, the display box 40 of the present invention may be manufactured from a single sheet of cardboard, or other suitable material. FIG. 9 exemplifies such a single sheet and will be described more fully below. Windows 30 of a desired size and shape may be stamped into the sheet, and may these windows may be sealed with a sturdy transparent film such as cellophane.

Turning now to FIGS. 5-8, to achieve the desired structure in a display box 40 having features of the present invention, the following steps may be envisaged, although it will be appreciated that actual manufacture may be more conveniently done by stamping out a single sheet as exemplified in FIG. 9, followed by folding the box and gluing or stapling the loose edges appropriately. At least one continuous single cut 44 is made into three sides 46, 48, 50 of the box 40, so that the two end points 52, 54 of the cut 44 are positioned at opposite ends of a fourth side 56 of the box, as exemplified in FIGS. 5-6. It will be appreciated that the fourth side 56 of the box is now flexible along a score line or hinge 58 (shown as a broken line in FIG. 5) extending from the first end 52 to the second end 54 of the cut, and will permit the fourth side 56 to bend about the score line 58 without any other side having to bend. A second cut 60 having a first end 62 and second end 64 may similarly be made into three sides of the box, to allow the box to bend about a second score line or hinge 66.

Although the first score line 58 and second score line 66 may be on the same side of the box, the cuts and the score lines may be on different sides of the box, depending on the configuration of the container that it is to be inserted within. The cuts and the score lines are positioned on the box 40 to coincide with the positions of hinges of a container that is desired to be inserted within, thus ensuring that when the container bends at a hinge, the outer display box 40 bends along a score line without any other portion of the box 40 having to bend.

One beneficial result of the configuration of the display box of the present invention is that it permits the overall package, including the container surrounded by the display box 40, to be shipped and stored in a folded configuration, as exemplified in FIGS. 7-8. This characteristic has the advantage of allowing the overall package to be rendered more compact, making it easier to handle and eliminating the tendency of the container within to bias from an unfolded to a folded configuration while being handled, which, as explained above, may cause a rigid display box, such as exemplified in FIGS. 3-4, to break up. There is the further advantage that, after the package has been shipped, it may be unfolded for display in a store to consumers. The windows 30 in the front permit a consumer to look into the contents of both the box 40 and the container within, while the transparent material in the windows 30 prevent tampering with the contents. After purchasing the package, the consumer may easily fold up the package for transport away from the store, and may thereafter easily slide the container from the interior of the display box 40.

Thus, following from the foregoing method of making a preferred embodiment of the display box of the present invention, a preferred structure of the invention may be described as follows. A display box 40 is provided having six rectangular sides. (The term “side” is to be understood herein as allowing that a side is positionable in a single plane, but is not necessarily continuous from one extremity to another. For example, the side 48 as shown in FIG. 6 is positionable in a single plane in one configuration, but it is not continuous from one extremity to another to the extent it includes incisions 44, 60. So also, side 56 as shown in FIG. 5 is positionable in a single plane but is not continuous from one extremity to another to the extent it includes windows 30.) At least one incision extends from a starting point 52 adjacent a perimeter of a first side 56, circumferentially through three other sides 46, 48, 50, and terminates at an ending point 54 adjacent the perimeter of the same side 56 that includes the first point 52.

Thus, the display box may be folded about a score line or hinge 58, on the first side 56, extending between starting point 52 and ending point 54 of the incision In a further embodiment, further such incisions as indicated generally by numeral 60 may be formed in the box with a starting point 62 and an end point 64. In the latter embodiment, it is not necessary that the cuts and resulting score lines all exist on the same one of the sides of the display box, but in a preferred embodiment, as exemplified in FIGS. 5-6, two score lines 58, 66 exist on the same side 56, allowing the display box to be folded in two places, so that a first end panel 74 and second end panel 76 of the box may be folded over a middle panel 78, the end panels generally meeting each other at the center of the middle panel (FIGS. 7-8). Additionally, one or more windows 30 may be cut into the sides, and may be covered by a transparent material such as cellophane. In a preferred embodiment, a window, or a plurality of windows, are cut into the same side 56 so that, when the end panels 74, 76 are folded over the middle panel 78 as described, the windows are covered and are not visible or accessible from outside the folded box, and thus are “closed.”

At least one, but preferably two opposite sides 70, 72 may form conventional flaps 90 that may be opened to permit a flexible container to be inserted within the display box 40, and thereafter to be closed to receive the container within. Conventional tabs may be provided to secure the flaps in a closed position.

Turning now to FIGS. 7-8, in another aspect of the invention, rectangular blocking pieces 80 may be formed for insertion into openings 82 that appear in the display box 40 adjacent the score lines 58, 66 when the box is folded as described above, and exemplified in FIG. 7. The blocking pieces 80 may be formed from separate sheets of cardboard, and shaped to close off an opening 82. To easily achieve this purpose, the blocking piece may be folded into three flaps, namely two edge flaps 84, 85 and a middle flap 86. The edge flaps 84, 85 are configured to fit adjacent the inner surface 87 of a side (e.g. side 48) of the box that is exposed after the box is folded as exemplified in FIG. 7, leaving the middle flap 86 to close off the opening 82. In order to allow the blocking piece to operate when the box 40 is both folded (FIG. 8) and unfolded (FIGS. 5-6) with a flexible container positioned within the box 40, one of the edge flaps 84 (but not both) may be glued (or otherwise affixed, for example by staples) to an inner surface 87 with which the flap 84 is in contact. The blocking piece 80 is preferably made of flexible cardboard, sufficient to allow the unconnected part of the blocking piece to slide against the inner surface and against a container within when the box is moved from folded to unfolded condition, and vice versa. Thus, when the box 40 is in an unfolded condition, the blocking piece 80 (shown in broken line in FIG. 6) lies entirely against the inner surface 87 of the side 48. When the box is subsequently folded, the blocking piece repositions itself to have the edge flaps 84, 85 against the inner surface of side 48, but the middle flap 86 closes off the opening 82 (FIG. 7). It will be appreciated that, where the container within the box 40 has three panels and is hinged, the container will not be able to fall out of the display box 40 when folded. However, should the container within have only two hinged panels, or three separate panels not connected to each other, a blocking piece 80 will desirably tend to prevent such container from sliding out of the box 40 inadvertently.

Thus, once the blocking piece 80 is secured in the unfolded display box 40 as indicated in FIG. 6, insertion of the container into the box may be achieved simply by sliding the container in through one of the closable flaps 90 on the side of the container, to slide over the blocking piece lying against an inner surface 87 of side 48. Then, when the display box is folded, the blocking piece is automatically pulled into the correct position as the flap affixed to the internal surface 87 is pulled away. Alternatively, if the blocking piece 80 is not affixed to an internal surface 87, it may be inserted after the container is positioned within the display box and the display box is folded.

Finally, a so-called “die line” image of a preferred embodiment of the display box is exemplified in FIG. 9. The image does not include any blocking pieces which, as described, are cut out and applied separately. The die line indicates how the display box may be stamped out of a single sheet of cardboard or other suitable covering material for folding into the desired shape. The reference numerals applied to FIG. 9 identify elements of the display box identified above.

Thus, the present invention describes a display box 40 that is conveniently suited for enclosing and protecting flexible product containers. The display box 40 is configured to bend in unison with a flexible product container within, and provides the user with the ability to fold the overall package including container and display box for compact shipment, and to unfold the package to allow it to be put on display for consumers to view the contents of the container through transparent windows in the display box, all the while maintaining security of the contents.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A display box for enclosing a flexible container, the display box comprising: a generally rectangular box having six sides; and a first incision starting at a first point adjacent a perimeter of a first side, the first incision extending through a second, a third, and a fourth side, and ending at a second point adjacent the perimeter of the first side; whereby, the display box is foldable about a first line on the first side, the first line extending from the first point to the second point, such that folding about the first line includes no bending of another part of the box.
 2. The display box of claim 1, wherein the first side includes at least one window.
 3. The display box of claim 2, wherein the at least one window is three windows.
 4. The display box of claim 2, wherein, when the box is folded about the first line, at least one of the windows is thereby closed.
 5. The display box of claim 1, further comprising a second incision starting at a third point adjacent the perimeter of the first side, the second incision extending through the second, the third and the fourth sides, and ending at a fourth point adjacent the perimeter of the first side, whereby the display box is foldable about a second line on the first side, the first line extending from the third point to the fourth point, such that folding about the second line includes no bending of another part of the box.
 6. The display box of claim 5, wherein the first side includes at least one window and wherein, when the box is folded about the first line and about the second line, at least one of the windows is thereby closed.
 7. The display box of claim 6, wherein the at least one window is three windows.
 8. The display box of claim 1, further including a blocking piece configured to close an opening formed in the box when the box is folded about the first line.
 9. The display box of claim 8, wherein a portion of the blocking piece is attached to an interior surface of the box, whereby, when the box is an unfolded condition the blocking piece lies entirely adjacent the interior surface, and, when the box is in a folded configuration a portion of the blocking piece closes the opening.
 10. The display box of claim 1, wherein a fifth side is foldable as a flap to open the fifth side for receiving the container, and to close the fifth side for securing the container within the display box.
 11. A method of preparing a product in a flexible container, the container having at least two portions movable in relation to each other, the method comprising: providing a generally rectangular display box having six sides; inserting the container, in a linear configuration, within the display box; bending the display box about a first line located on a first side of the display box without bending any other side of the box.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first side includes a window, and wherein bending the display box about the first line includes closing the window.
 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising bending the display box about a second line located on a side of the box without bending any other sides of the box.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first side includes a window, and wherein bending the display box about the first and second lines includes closing the window.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein inserting the container within the display box includes opening a flap on a side of the box to receive the container, and closing the flap to secure the container within the display box. 